Trash can holders



Dec. 21, 1965 R. w. SHERLEY TRASH CAN HOLDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1964 INVENTOR ROY W. SHERLEY lhh,

FIG. 3

Z ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1965 R. w. SHERLEY TRASH CAN HOLDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1964 INVENTOR ROY W. SHERLEY fi 'fi if ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,224,595 TRASH CAN HOLDER Roy William Sherley, Abilene, Tex., assignor of one-fourth to Roy L. Willis, one-fourth to Charles R. Preslar, and one-fourth to Olen R. Haggard Filed July 20, 1964, Ser. No. 383,633 2 Claims. (Cl. 2111-83) This invention relates to holders for trash cans, receptacles or the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide trash can holders which are adapted to conveniently support or hold trash cans and wherein the covers or lids of the trash cans are maintained in a desired position so as to faiclitate use thereof.

A further object is to provide trash can holders which include a means for maintaining the lids safely and conveniently down on the trash cans, and wherein there is also provided a means for facilitating the removal of the lids from the cans and for supporting or maintaining the lids in raised position as, for example, when trash or garbage is being deposited in the cans, and wherein according to the present invention the trash can holders can be made to support or accommodate one or more trash cans, and wherein the device can be made so that they are either stationary or portable as desired or required.

Still another object is to provide such trash can holders that are economical to manufacture and efiicient in operation and which are rugged in structure and foolproof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of the present invention, and showing a trash can in phantom or broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the trash can holder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view illustrating a modification wherein two trash cans are adapted to be supported.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further modification.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a further modification wherein the trash can holder is portable or movable.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particu larly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates a trash can holder which includes a base 21 that is adapted to be made of a suitable material such as concrete, and the base 21 may be shaped to include a narrow end portion 22 as well as a widened end portion 23, and the base 21 is adapted to have a circular opening 24 therein which is adjacent the widened portion 23. The numeral 25 indicates a plurality of annular stepped shoulders which are contiguous to the opening 24, whereby trash or garbage cans 26 of different sizes can be conveniently accommodated or supported on certain of the shoulders 25. The numeral 27 indicates a lid or cover for the trash can 26.

As shown in the drawings, a vertically disposed bushing or fitting 28 is mounted on the base 21, and the bushing 28 may have flanges 29 on the lower end thereof which are secured as by securing elements or bolts 36 to the end portion 22 of the base 21. The numeral 31 indicates a vertically disposed pole or post which is adapted to be connected to the bushing 28 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of a securing element 32.

There is further provided a handle assembly which is indicated generally by the numeral 35, and the handle assembly 35 includes a generally triangular hand gripping portion 36 as well as a pair of spaced parallel arms or bars 37 which have a plurality of registering spaced apart apertures 38 therein. The numeral 33 indicates a vertically disposed plate which is secured as by welding to the upper end of the post 31, and a pivot pin 34 on the plate 33 is adapted to engage certain of the openings 38 so as to provide a pivot mounting for the handle 35. The numeral 39 indicates a spring member or coil spring which has its upper end connected to the arms 37 as at 40, while the lower end of the spring 39 is anchored as at 41 to the post 31.

The numeral 42 indicates a bracket which has a lower portion 43 that is secured to the lid 27 as by means of securing elements 44, and the bracket 42 further includes an upstanding portion 46 which is connected to the arms 37 as at 45.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 3 of the drawing wherein there is illustrated a modified trash can holder which is indicated generally by the numeral 47, and the trash can holder 47 includes a base 48 which is adapted to support two trash cans such as the trash cans 26 shown in FIG. 1, and the base 48 is adapted to be provided with a pair of spaced apart recesses 49 for receiving therein the lower ends of such trash cans. The numeral 50 indicates a vertically disopsed bushing which is suitably affixed to the base 48, and a vertically disopsed post or pole 51 is connected to the bushing 50.

A pair of diametrically opposed plate members 52 are affixed to the upper portion of the post 51, and there is provided a pair of similar handles 53 which are pivotally connected to the plate members 52 as at 57. Coil springs 54 are connected to the handles 53 as at 58, and the lower ends of the pair of coil springs 54 are anchored as at 59 to the post 51. Each of the handles 53 has a construction generally similar to the construction of the previously described handles 35. Thus, each handle 53 may include a generally triangular hand gripping portion as well as arms 60, and the arms 60 are adapted to have brackets such as the brackets 42 connected thereto at the points 56, and the brackets 42 are adapted to be connected to the trash can lids 27 in the same manner as previously described in connection with FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated a further modified trash can holder which is indicated generally by the numeral 61, and the device or holder 61 includes a horizontally disposed base 62 which is adapted to be made of a suitable material such as concrete, and the base 62 may include a widened portion 63 as well as a narrow end portion 64, and the base 62 has a circular opening 65 therein which is surrounded by stepped annular shoulders 66 which permit trash cans 26 of different diameters to be conveniently accommodated or received therein. The numeral 67 indicates a vertically disposed bushing which is affixed to the base 62 adjacent the narrow end portion thereof, and a vertically disposed post 68 is connected to the bushing 67 as by means of a securing element 69. The numeral 70 indicates a cap which is mounted on and connected to the upper end of the post 68 by means of a securing element 71, FIG. 6.

A collar 72 is arranged below the cap 70, and the collar 72 may be connected to the post 68 as at 73. The numeral 74 indicates a sleeve which is interposed between the cap 76 and collar 72, and the sleeve 74 is rotatably mounted on the post 68. A plate is secured as by welding to the rotatable sleeve 74. The numeral 79 indicates a handle which includes a hand gripping portion 76 as well as bars 77, and the handle 79 is adapted to be pivotally connected to the plate 75 by means of a pivot pin or stud 78. Brackets 80 may include a lower portion 81 which is secured as at 82 to the lid 27, and the bracket 80 further includes an upstanding portion 83 which is connected as at 84 to the arms 77 of the handle 79. The numeral 85 indicates a coil spring or spring member which has its lower end connected as at 86 to the post 68, and the upper end of the spring member 85 is connected as at 87 to the arms 77 of the handle 79.

There is further provided a body member which is indicated generally by the numeral 88, and the body member 88 is adapted to include a portion 89 which may be secured as by welding to the post 68, and the body member 88 has an inclined cam or eccentric upper edge portion or surface 90 for selective engagement by the lower edges of the arms 77, and there is provided a slot or notch 91 in the upper portion of the body member 88 for at times receiving herein lower edge portions of the arms 77 in order to maintain the lid 27 in a raised out-of-theway position off of the trash can 26 as later described in this applicaiton.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, there is illustrated another modified trash can holder which is indicated generally by the numeral 92, and the trash can holder 92 is of the portable or movable type and includes a framework 93 that embodies spaced parallel bottom bars 94 which have a generally circular base piece 95 affixed thereto as by welding, and the base piece 95 may include a horizontal lower portion 97 and an upstanding circular rim portion 98. The numeral 99 indicates a horizontally disposed end piece which is connected to the bars 94, and wheels 100 are connected to the end member 99. Spaced parallel upright rods 101 are affixed to the end member 99, and there is further provided inclined braces 102 which extend between the rods 94 and 101 and which are suitably secured thereto. The upper ends of the rods 101 are joined or interconnected by a top piece 103. A cross piece 104 extends between the rods 101 and is suitably connected thereto, and the numeral 105 indicates a yoke which is affixed to the intermediate portion of the cross piece 104. A sleeve 106 is rotatably mounted on the yoke 105, and a plate 107 is secured as by welding to the movable or rotary sleeve 106.

The numeral 108 indicates a handle which includes a generally triangular hand gripping portion 109 that is adapted to have a suitable weight 110 mounted therein or affixed thereto and due to the provision of the weight 110, the previously described spring arrangement can be dispensed with since the weight will serve to provide sufficient pressure to maintain the lid down on the trash can. The handle 108 includes arms 111 which are pivotally connected to the plate 107 as at 112, and the bracket such as the bracket 42 is adapted to be connected to the handle 108 as at 113. The numeral 114 indicates a body member which is provided with as inclined upper cam or eccentric surface 115 for coaction with the lower edges of the arms 111, and the body member 114 is adapted to be suitably secured as by welding to the cross piece 104. The body member 114 is provided with a slot or notch 116 for selectively receiving lower edge portions of the arms 111 whereby the handle 108 can be maintained in a raised position so as to hold the lid of the trash can in an out-of-the-way position off of the trash can when desired or required.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided trash can holders which are especially suitable for use in supporting one or more trash cans or receptacles in a desired sanitary manner, and wherein with the present invention the lid will be safely maintained on the trash can so that odors from the garbage or trash will be minimized, and wherein there will be less chance of flies, insects and the like gaining access to the trash, and in addition the trash cans will be supported in an upright manner so that there will be less likelihood of dogs or other animals upsetting the trash cans. In addition, the present invention is constructed so that the lid can be conveniently raised as, for example, when it is desired to place trash in the can, and also, the can can be readily removed from the device when it is desired to empty the trash can.

With further reference to the trash can holder 20 of FIG. 1, it is to be noted that due to the provision of the plurality of stepped shoulders 25 of different diameters, that trash cans 26 of different sizes or diameters can be conveniently supported therein, and the opening 24 not only helps reduce weight of the support but in addition provides a means whereby water and the like can drain downwardly therethrough. The base 21 is constructed so that it is efiiciently balanced so that the device with the trash can thereon will not ordinarily accidentally be tipped over. The securing element 32 may be of the type that is removable so that the post 31 can be detached from the bushing 28 in order to permit the entire holder to be shipped or stored in a collapsed disassembled condition occupying only a minimum amount of s ace.

With the parts arranged as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that when the lid 27 is on the can 26, the tension from the spring 39 will exert a downward pressure on the handle 35 so as to maintain the lid 27 tight on the can 26. However, when sufficient manual upward pressure is exerted on the portion 36, the holding power of the spring 39 can be overcome so that, for example, the parts can be moved from the solid line position shown in FIG. 2 to the broken line position of FIG. 2 whereby the handle 35 will pivot about an axis extending to the point 34 and the spring 39 will be stretched or moved past the dead center position so that the spring 39 will function to also maintain the lid in a raised position whereby it is not necessary to use the hands to hold the lid in raised position since the lid will remain elevated by itself. Then, when it is desired to return the lid 27 to its normal position on top of the can 26, it is only necessary to manually push down on the portion 35 whereby the parts including the spring 39 will return to the solid line position shown in FIG. 2 so that the spring 39 will function to maintain the lid in closed position on the trash can. Thus, it will be seen that there is a unique and advantageous arrangement or coaction between the associated parts such as the spring 39 and the pivot point 34 which permits the spring to serve the dual purpose, namely to function as a means for holding the lid either safely down on the trash can or conveniently raised off of the trash can.

In the modification shown in FIG. 3, the base 48 of the stand or holder 47 is adapted to support two trash cans thereon in side by side relation, and the base 48 may be recessed as at 49 so that the lower end portion of the trash cans can be conveniently received therein, and the recesses 49 may be provided with stepped shoulders similar to the previously described stepped shoulders 25. The single post 51 has the pair of plates 52 rigidly secured thereto, and a pair of similar handles 53 are pivotally connected to the plates 52 as at 57. The pair of springs 54 function in the same manner as the previously described spring 39. That is, the pair of springs 54 are adapted to serve the dual purpose of maintaining the lid tightly down on top of the trash can when desired or required, and in addition due to the position of the springs 54 relative to the pivot pins 57, the springs 54,v when moved beyond the dead center position extending through the pivot pin 57 will serve to maintain the lids conveniently elevated or raised off of the trash cans so that the hands of the person are free to perform whatever functions are desired.

The handle such as the handle 35 includes the arms 37 which have the plurality of openings 38 therein whereby due to the provision of these spaced apart openings 38,

the pivot pin 34 can be arranged in engagement with different of these openings 38 so that the handle can be adjusted to fit trash cans of different size or diameter.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, with the parts arranged as shown in FIG. 4 for example, the lid 27 will be safely and conveniently held or maintained on top of the trash can 26 due to the provision of the spring 85. However, when it is desired to lift the lid 27 it is only necessary to grip the portion 76 of the handle 79 and then lift the handle 79 slightly and since the bracket 80 connects the handle 79 to the lid 27, it will be seen that as the handle 79 is raised, the lid 27 will likewise be raised. Then, the handle 79 is adapted to be moved in a generally horizontal arcuate manner along the upper inclined edge 90 of the body member 88 and due to the incllined edge 90, the handle 79 will be gradually and continually raised until the arms 77 reach the slot or notch 91 and when this happens, manual pressure on the handle 79 can be released since the notch 91 will serve as a keeper to hold the handle in place with the lid above and off to one side of the trash can. The plate 75 has the handle 79 pivotally connected thereto as at 78, and the plate 75 is fixedly secured to the sleeve 74 which is rotatable on the upper end of the post 68 and this arrangement permits the previously described movement to take place. When it is desired to replace the lid on the trash can, the opposite procedure is followed, that is the handle 79 is manually raised slightly so as to cause the arms 77 to clear the notch 91, whereby the parts can be returned to the position such as that shown in FIG. 4.

It is to be noted that with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, that the trash can lid can be readily lifted or returned to its closed position without the necessity of touching the actual lid since the hand gripping portion such as the portion 76 can be gripped in a more sanitary manner to bring about the desired movement or action. In FIG. 7 there is illustrated a portable type of trash can holder 92 which includes a ring member or base piece 95 for conveniently receiving the lower end of the trash can therein, and wheels 100 permit the device to be readily rolled or moved from place to place as desired or required. When the device is not being rolled or moved, the support member 96 which is affixed to the base piece 95 cooperates with the wheels 100 to provide a three-point support or rest for the device.

With further reference to the device of FIG. 7, the handle 108 is adapted to be connected to the trash can lid in a manner similar to that previously described so that by raising the handle 108 and moving it along the inclined edge 115 of the body member 114, the handle 108 can be moved until it reaches the slot 116 whereby the slot 116 will hold the handle and lid in an out-of-the-way position off of the trash can. Instead of using the spring arrangement in FIG. 7, a weight may be suitably mounted in the portion 109 of the handle 108 and such a weight will function to provide sufficient downward force to hold the handle and lid stationary in their desired adjusted position.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

With further reference to the device shown in FIG. 7, the member 103 can be conveniently manually gripped when it is desired to move the entire device from one location to another and by tilting the device so that the support member 96 comes up above the ground, the Wheels 100 can be used as convenient means for permitting the device to be moved to a new location and after the desired location has been reached, the device can be arranged so that it is supported on the member 96 and the wheels 100.

The present invention is constructed so that it has an improved latching means for holding the receptacle cover or lid in opened or closed position, and wherein the lid handle can be gripped and moved with one hand, and wherein the lid can be readily moved to an out-of-the-way position so that the garbage carried by the individual can be readily placed in the garbage can. Also, sufficient downward pressure is maintained on the lid so that animals will not be able to ordinarily lift the lid, and wherein insects will be kept from the trash since the lid will be maintained on the can. Also, the trash can is firmly held in place so that the trash can will not be ordinarily upset by children, animals, wind or the like. Also the device is adapted to be attractively consrtucted so that it will enhance the appearance of the yard or other locality where the same is being used. Also, the lid remains connected to the handle so that accidental loss of the lid will be prevented.

As previously stated the trash can holders can be made as single units or double units and the devices of the present invention are adapted to be used for domestic purposes, that is around homes or the like as well as around or in conjunction with commercial installations. The devices can be made as stationary units for alley use or the like or they can be made as portable carts and can be made adjustable to fit different sizes of cans. The device is constructed so that the lid is free floating for tight fit and is under a considerable amount of pressure when the can is either closed or open, and this pressure is provided by either using springs or the weight in the handle. The carts are balanced for easy maneuvering and are ruggedly built to handle a considerable amount of weight, and the devices are adapted to handle different sizes of standard trash cans.

The holes or openings 38 are so spaced that the handle can be adjusted to fit different sizes of trash cans.

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, there is provided a method of maneuvering the lid which is especially suitable in those areas where yard fences have a recess built into the fence around the back yard and this type of lid opener permits swinging to the side instead of straight up.

The units are adapted to be made at low cost so that they can be sold or rented at a very small price, and in addition complicated trigger mechanisms and the like have been eliminated and thus, the likelihood of the device failing to properly function is minimized.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In a trash can holder, a base embodying a widened portion and a narrow portion, said base having a circular opening therein adjacent said widened portion, there being stepped annular shoulders in said base adjacent said opening, a vertically disposed bushing aflixed to said base adjacent said narrow end portion, a vertically disposed post connected to said bushing, a cap connected to the upper end of said post, a collar arranged below said cap and connected to said post, a sleeve interposed between said cap and collar and rotatably mounted on said post, a plate affixed to said sleever, a handle including a triangular hand gripping portion, arms, and a pivot pin connecting said arms to said plate, and a body member having a portion affixed to said post, and said body member having an inclined cam upper edge portion for selective engagement with said arms, and a slot in the upper portion of the body member for selectively receiving said arms.

2. A mobile cart type trash can holder comprising a frame including spaced parallel bottom bars having a circular base piece aflixed thereto for receiving the lower end of a can, a support member depending from said base piece and affixed thereto, a horizontally disposed end piece connected to said bars, wheels connected to said end piece, spaced parallel upright rods affixed to said end piece, said frame having inclined braces connected thereto, a top piece joining the upper ends of said rods together, a cross piece extending between said rods and connected thereto, a yoke aflixed to the intermediate portion of said cross piece, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said yoke, a plate affixed to said sleeve, a handle including a triangular shaped hand gripping portion and arms and a pivot pin connecting said arms to said plate, a Weight on the hand gripping portion, a body member having a portion affixed to said cross piece, and said body member having an inclined upper edge portion defining a cam for selectively engaging the lower surface of said arms of the handle, and a slot in the upper portion of the body member for selectively receiving the arms of the handle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Cutter 248154 Cretors 534 Sandberg et al. 248l47 Chaurcey 248145 Logan 211-84 Elliott 248l47 Platt 248129 Stanley 248l47 Hill 248l47 Bittle 248149 Shaw 248154 Stanley 248l47 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A TRASH CAN HOLDER, A BASE EMBODYING A WIDENED PORTION AND A NARROW PORTION, SAID BASE HAVING A CIRCULAR OPENING THEREIN ADJACENT SAID WIDENED PORTION, THERE BEING STEPPED ANNULAR SHOULDERS IN SAID BASE ADJACENT SAID OPENING, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED BUSHING AFFIXED TO SAID BASE ADJACENT SAID NARROW END PORTION, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED POST CONNECTED TO SAID BUSHING, A CAP CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID POST, A COLLAR ARRANGED BELOW SAID CAP AND CONNECTED TO SAID POST, A SLEEVE INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID CAP AND COLLAR AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID POST, A PLATE AFFIXED TO SAID SLEEVE, A HANDLE INCLUDING A TRIANGULAR HAND GRIPPING PORTION, ARMS, AND A PIVOT PIN CONNECTING SAID 